This chamber music concert invites listeners to enjoy a sensitive, rich dialogue between violin and piano, reflecting the diversity of the spirit of 19th-century Romanticism. The works of Edvard Grieg and Robert Schumann represent two different musical worlds, which internationally acclaimed violinist Evgenia Epshtein (Croatia) and pianist Donaldas Račys, professor at the Music Academy of Vytautas Magnus University and head of the Piano Department, invite you to explore in greater depth.
The first piece in the concert is Edvard Grieg's Sonata for Violin and Piano, Op. 8 No. 1. The composer himself later described this sonata as "naive, full of youthful energy," but his distinctive style is already clearly audible here. The sonata reflects Grieg's efforts to find his own musical voice – although the influence of the German Romantic tradition (especially Mendelssohn and Schumann) is evident, Norwegian folk elements begin to emerge in the melodies and rhythms. This work marks the beginning of Grieg's career as a composer of chamber music.
Next on the program is Robert Schumann's Sonata for Violin and Piano in A minor (No. 1, Op. 105, 1851). Schumann's violin sonatas were composed during a difficult period in his life, when the composer was already experiencing increasing mental health problems. The Sonata in A minor is characterized by a restless, tense atmosphere and deep emotional concentration. Unlike the virtuoso violin sonatas of the 19th century, Schumann sought an equal dialogue between the violin and the piano, often with a rich, polyphonic texture. The premiere of the work did not receive unanimously favorable reviews – the sonata was considered too "heavy" and introspective. Only later was it recognized as one of Schumann's most profound chamber works.
The performers will conclude the concert with Edvard Grieg's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2, Op. 13 (1867). The second sonata marks a clear creative breakthrough and maturity for the composer. Grieg himself said: "In the first sonata, I tried to speak German, in the second – already in my native language." This work reveals the influence of Norwegian music even more strongly – both in the melodies and in the rhythmic energy, especially in the final movement. The sonata was a great success and contributed to Grieg's international recognition. It is considered one of the most important sonatas in the 19th-century violin and piano repertoire.
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Evgenia Epshtein
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Donaldas Račys
